New Development Bank and India Explore Ways to Mobilise Private Capital for Developing Countries

Jaipur, The New Development Bank (NDB) and the Government of India have held high-level discussions on how to bring more private investment into infrastructure and sustainable-development projects across emerging and developing economies.

The seminar, titled “The Role of the New Development Bank in Mobilising Private Capital in Member Countries,” was convened in Jaipur on August 12 alongside the first meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s 2026 BRICS chairship.

The event brought together government representatives, financial institutions, private-sector executives, academics and development-finance specialists from NDB and BRICS member countries.

India Highlights the Need for Stronger Investor Confidence

India’s Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is also India’s Governor at the New Development Bank, delivered the keynote address.

She highlighted the importance of multilateral development banks in helping make infrastructure projects more attractive to private investors. According to the NDB, the discussion focused on reducing investment risks, improving the financial viability of projects and creating conditions that can encourage private capital to participate on a larger scale.

The central challenge, according to the discussions, is not simply finding money for development projects. Countries also need stable investment environments, predictable policies and credible long-term frameworks capable of giving investors greater confidence.

NDB Seeks a Larger Role in Private Investment

NDB President Dilma Rousseff said mobilising private capital has become a strategic priority for the development bank.

The bank is seeking to use its financing capacity, project-development expertise and financial instruments to help attract additional private investment into infrastructure and sustainable-development activities.

The NDB has also outlined plans to increase the share of its financing devoted to non-sovereign operations during its next strategic period. Its president said the institution intends to expand tools such as guarantees, risk-sharing arrangements, trade finance, project bonds, equity investments and investment funds.

Focus on Local-Currency Financing

Another major theme discussed at the seminar was the use of local currencies in development finance.

The NDB has been expanding local-currency borrowing and lending in its member countries as part of efforts to reduce foreign-exchange risks.

The bank is also preparing an Indian rupee-denominated bond programme. According to NDB President Dilma Rousseff, the planned programme could mobilise around INR 250 billion over five years, while helping deepen India’s domestic bond market and provide borrowers with alternatives that can reduce currency exposure.

Private Sector and Financial Institutions Join Discussion

The seminar included perspectives from regulators, financial institutions and private companies.

Participants examined ways to improve project preparation, reduce risks and create stronger pipelines of projects that can attract institutional and private investors.

Representatives from organisations and companies including IRDAI, NDB, Sertrading, Tencent, Tata Capital Decarbonisation Fund and Avaana Capital took part in discussions covering innovative financing structures, risk-management mechanisms, technology partnerships and local-currency solutions.

India Remains a Major NDB Financing Market

India has become one of the largest recipients of NDB financing.

In remarks delivered at the seminar, NDB Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Rajiv Ranjan said the bank had approved 35 infrastructure projects in India worth approximately $10.5 billion. The projects cover areas including transport, renewable energy, water, urban development and social infrastructure.

The NDB has also supported India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund through equity investments and has financed renewable-energy projects involving wind, solar power and battery storage.

Looking Beyond Traditional Development Loans

The discussions reflect a broader shift in the development-finance sector: large infrastructure requirements cannot be met through public financing and traditional development-bank loans alone.

The NDB wants to position itself as a catalyst that can help governments prepare stronger projects, reduce perceived risks and bring private investors into projects with long-term development benefits.

For developing countries facing substantial requirements for clean energy, transport networks, digital infrastructure and climate-resilient systems, attracting private capital could become increasingly important.

The Jaipur seminar therefore provided a platform for India, NDB and private-sector participants to examine how development finance can be combined with commercial investment to expand the scale of infrastructure and sustainable-development funding.

Source: New Development Bank, August 17, 2026.